Top 10 Bank Heist Cars

If heist movies and TV shows have taught us anything, it's that getting away cleanly from a robbery means choosing the perfect getaway car. It has to be fast, stealthy and purposeful — or just one of those in excessive quantity — to avoid being caught. Here are the top new cars we'd pick to make our flawless getaway.

10. 2011 Toyota Camry

Simply being faster than the authorities isn't always a sure ticket to freedom. The Camry likely isn't a wheelman's first choice, but it makes this list by being nondescript and easily disposable. There are millions of Camrys on the road, so clean off those fingerprints, park it at the car dealership next to a dozen identical cars and walk away.

9. 2012 Ford Escape

The name alone suggests a positive outcome.

8. 2011 Honda Element

The Element's plastic floors loved by parents and dog owners are welcomed when the exploding dye pack makes an easily identifiable mess.

It's also good for cleaning up flesh wounds, and that's a good thing; the Element's pokey acceleration means it won't be fleeing the scene quickly. Plus, the flat-folding front passenger seat can hide occupants from head-counting eyes.

7. 2011 GMC Sierra 3500HD Denali

Forget the pair of Dodge Chargers used in the heist movie "Fast Five" that dragged a bank vault down the street. When that vault has to come out, the Sierra 3500HD's 765 pounds-feet of torque and 21,700-pound towing capacity will drag the vault down the street and to the awaiting helicopter, of course. The HD's big towing capacity is with the fifth wheel, so custom rig fabrication is required.

6. 2012 Volkswagen Passat TDI

Having to stop to refill the fuel tank could mean letting a bystander get a good look at you, and who wants that? You likely won't be stopping with the Passat TDI's almost 800 miles of fuel range. The 795.5-mile estimated range comes with the manual-transmission's highway rating of 43 mpg combined with an 18.5-gallon fuel tank. Picking a target bank 794.5 miles from the border means the Passat TDI will make it across the border without stopping — for fuel at least.

5. 2012 Hyundai Sonata 2.0T

The Sonata blends in for the same reasons the Camry does; it seems like there are new Sonatas at every intersection. The difference is Hyundai's 2.0T performance version is better suited for fast getaways with its great handling. For a family sedan, the Sonata's handling prowess is unexpectedly awesome. The 2.0T stays under the radar because it looks identical to non-turbo versions.

4. 2012 Ram Cargo Van

The Ram Cargo Van or C/V is the commercial version of the Grand Caravan. That's right, a minivan. The C/V is perfect for wrapping in sheep's clothing, letting it blend in as a postal-service vehicle or cupcake van. Inside, storage bins beneath the floor keep valuables out of sight, and a heavy-duty suspension with payload of 1,800 pounds can carry that big score.

3. 2011 Ford F-150 Raptor SuperCrew

As long as the pursuing agency isn't the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, which already has a batch of Raptor pickup trucks, the off-road-ready Raptor will take high-speed pursuits where Ford Crown Victorias can't. Curbs, high-speed desert roads and mountains pose little threat for the Raptor's specialized suspension and 411-hp, 6.2-liter V-8. The SuperCrew with four full-size doors gives "colleagues" plenty of room for a hasty entry.

2. 2012 Dodge Charger SRT-8

Fight fire with fire. When the plan hits a snag, the Charger will blend into a chaotic crime scene filled with Charger police cars. The SRT-8 Charger can outrun any standard-issue police-spec car with its 6.4-liter V-8 making 470 hp and 175-mph top speed. The SRT-8 looks more aggressive than the base models, so spare police uniforms and LED light bar for the roof may be in order to suggest that your car is just another cop car.

1. 2011 Cadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon

More than 500 horsepower is helpful in any high-speed escape, but the 556-hp, supercharged CTS-V Sport Wagon gets points for its wagon utility to haul more loot compared to its coupe and sedan counterparts. The V's 6.2-liter V-8 is a torque beast that makes power everywhere in the rev range, which is perfect for evading cops through unpredictable city streets. The CTS-V wagon should be at the top of any wheelman's list because, along with its power and utility, a six-speed-manual transmission is standard equipment.